Information about the Inquiry

Inquiry into the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007 & Related Bills

Information about the Inquiry

On 9 August 2007, the Senate referred to the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs five bills comprising the legislative package for the Australian Government's response to the 'national emergency' relating to the welfare of Indigenous children in the Northern Territory.

The bills referred to the committee for inquiry are:

The legislative package flows from measures announced by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs on 21 June 2007. Those measures are in response to the Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse, Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle "Little Children are Sacred".

The committee will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Friday, 10 August 2007 and is required to report on Monday, 13 August 2007.

Inquiries from hearing and speech impaired people should be directed to the Parliament House TTY number (02 6277 7799). Adobe also provides tools for the blind and visually impaired to access PDF documents. These tools are available at: http://access.adobe.com/. If you require any special arrangements in order to enable you to participate in a committee inquiry, please contact the Committee Secretary.

If you need any further information, contact the Committee Secretariat on +61 2 6277 3560 (phone), +61 2 6277 5794 (fax); or by email to legcon.sen@aph.gov.au or by writing to the Committee secretary at the above address.

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3560
Fax: +61 2 6277 5794
Email: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au